CCL: Get to know tonight's Dynamo opponent, C.D. Olimpia

The Dynamo face Honduran powerhouse C.D. Olimpia tonight in Tegucigalpa in a crucial CONCACAF Champions League match. With just four games per team in the group stage and only the winner advancing to the quarterfinals next March, tonight’s match figures to go a long way in determining the winner in Group 3.

Fans can watch the game at the official Dynamo viewing party, or or at home on FOX Soccer or Univision Deportes. Before the game, here is some information on tonight’s opponent.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: C.D. OLIMPIA

Full name: Club Deportivo Olimpia

City: Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Founded: 1912

Honduran titles: 25

Champions League fact: Olimpia is one of only three clubs in CONCACAF to qualify for all five Champions League tournaments since its reformatting in 2008.

Olimpia is the former club of Dynamo midfielder Boniek Garcia, who signed with the Dynamo on June 7. Olimpia celebrated its 100th anniversary in May by capturing its 25th Honduran title. “Los Leones” have won two CONCACAF Champions Cups (1972, 1988) and were ranked as the second best club in Central and North America in the 1900s by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. Brazilian forward Luciano Emilio has 42 goals with Olimpia after scoring 41 goals with D.C. United from 2007-10. Emilio was MLS’ top-scorer in 2007, with 20 goals in 29 games. Olimpia defender Johnny Palacios, along with brothers Wilson and Jerry, became the first trio of brothers in history to be named to the same World Cup roster. 43-year-old manager Danilo Tosello won four titles with Olimpia and made over 200 appearances with the club from 1999-2007. The Argentine scored 86 goals in his career in Honduras, seventh-most in the history of the league.

Noel Valladares – 35-year-old has 104 caps, the second most in Honduras history. Valladares, the current captain of the national team, started all three group stage games at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Donis Escobar – 32-year-old was one of three goalkeepers on Honduras roster for June CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers and, like Valladares, is part of the roster for September qualifiers.

Defenders

Juan Carlos Garcia – 24-year old has 14 caps for the Honduras national team. Garcia was on the Honduras roster for CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers in June and is on the same roster for the upcoming qualifiers in September.

Brayan Beckeles – 26-year-old has ten caps for Honduras and was on the Honduras roster for CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers in June.

Carlos Will Mejia – 28-year-old has made 14 appearances for the Honduras national team, including a start in its 2-0 loss to Panama in World Cup qualifying on June 8.

Roger Rojas – 22-year-old striker represented Honduras at the 2009 U-20 World Cup. Rojas joined Dynamo midfielder Boniek Garcia for a trial with Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League in 2009. Rojas is on the Honduras roster for the upcoming CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers in September.

Forwards

Luciano Emilio – 33-year-old Brazilian won the Major League Soccer MVP and Golden Boot in 2007 with 20 goals. Emilio has played in Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Uruguay, and the United States. Emilio spent 2007-10 with D.C. United, scoring 41 goals in 87 games.

RECENT SEASONS

2012 Clausura Season (spring): Like most Latin American countries, Honduras uses an Apertura and Clausura schedule format, with a season divided into two “halves”, with a champion of each section. Apertura is the first “season” of the year, ending in December, while the Clausura season typically ends in May. In the 2012 Clausura, Olimpia finished in first place, with a 10-3-5 record, for 35 points in 18 games. It scored 32 goals and conceded 14 on its way to the playoffs, where it defeated Real Espana in the semifinals, 6-0 on aggregate. In the two-leg final, it faced arch-rival Marathon, and earned a 0-0 road draw before capturing the championship with a 1-0 home win, with Brazilian forward Douglas Caetano scoring the winner.

2012 Apertura Season (current): The current season began on July 27 and Olimpia is currently 2-0-4, and tied for second place in the ten-team league, with 12 goals scored and six goals against.

2012-13 Champions League: Olimpia opened its Champions League campaign with a 3-0 home win over C.D. FAS on Aug. 2. The Lions took the lead after just 67 seconds when Luciano Emilio scored off a corner kick. In the 17th minute, another Olimpia corner kick resulted in a goal, with Juan Carlos Garcia scoring for a 2-0 lead. FAS defender Nestor Rual was issued a red card in the 69th minute for a late, high challenge on Olimpia’s Rojas. Six minutes later, Rojas scored the final goal for Olimpia.